Scott Laughton, 18, looks good to Flyers

Flyers prospect Scott Laughton takes part in training camp. He could earn a spot.

By Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: January 15, 2013

Scott Laughton made a good first impression on the man who matters most - coach Peter Laviolette - as the Flyers opened their six-day training camp Sunday in front of a standing-room-only crowd in Voorhees.

"He certainly didn't look out of place," Laviolette said.

Laughton, an 18-year-old center who was the Flyers' first-round pick in the June draft, will be given every opportunity to earn a roster spot.

"I thought he did a nice job out there," said Laviolette, who had watched Laughton play one junior game for Oshawa this season. "System-wise, he seemed to understand. He's a smart kid . . . a smart two-way player."

Laughton centered a line with Wayne Simmonds and Matt Read.

"It felt pretty good just to get my feet wet and get to know the guys," Laughton said.

Like Sean Couturier, who made the team out of training camp as an 18-year-old last season, Laughton has a defense-first mentality.

"It's always come naturally to me," he said. "I think I play the right way."

Playing for the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League, Laughton had 33 points (13 goals) in 32 games this season. He missed 10 games because of a suspension for a hit to the head.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Laughton "plays the game properly in his own end and skates real well," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "He brings an element of toughness to his game. He's really good on faceoffs. I think this week is good for him, and we'll see where it goes."

Laughton can remain with the Flyers for five games before they have to make a decision on whether to send him back to his junior team. Once he played his sixth game, it would count as a year toward his contract.

Since Danny Briere is sidelined by a wrist injury and may not be ready for the first few games, Laughton could win a roster spot.

Does Holmgren consider him a long shot to break camp with the team?

"What did I say about Couturier last year? Highly unlikely? I don't know," Holmgren said. "I think it was important for us to bring him [Laughton] in and just be a part of this process because we missed it in the fall. Obviously, he's a young player in our organization that we think highly of, and we wanted to have him take part in this."

Laughton, a native of Oakville, Ontario, who is living with teammate Scott Hartnell during training camp, said his goal was to "do everything I can to make the team."

He was bypassed for a tryout with the Canadian Junior World team, which he said was "definitely disappointing. But going back to Oshawa, I got a lot of opportunities, and I think that really helped my game and is part of the reason I'm here right now."

Laviolette tried several line combinations Sunday on ice that wasn't in the best shape. Brayden Schenn and Jakub Voracek alternated on the top unit with Hartnell and Claude Giroux.

"That's probably the first two-hour practice I had since I've been a pro," said Hartnell, now in his 12th season. "It was a lot of work, but Lavy appreciated the work today. I think we were a little nervous, from Laughton right to Kimmo [Timonen], the oldest guy. There's a lot of nerves in there. It was pretty good."

Hartnell said the ice was "a little choppy" from youth games. "Hopefully, [Monday] it'll be a little better. But I think guys all and all are on the same page - the stick on the knees after a hard skate. It's going to be a fun week here. It's not much time till you get at it, and Pittsburgh's here Saturday afternoon" for the season opener.

Laviolette was asked whether he talked about the Penguins during Sunday's practice.